Kyle Sandilands has shared a positive update about his co-star Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s return to their radio show as her absence nears the two-week mark after their explosive row.
Sandilands, 54, opened Tuesday’s Kyle and Jackie O show by revealing the “good news” about Henderson’s return, teasing that his long-term co-host will be back on the airwaves soon.
“I did get some good news though yesterday,” the shock jock told KIIS FM listeners.
“Anything that’s got my name on it, I have to sign off on it, so I signed off yesterday on some sort of statement coming from Jackie’s camp.
“The only thing I noticed is that Jackie will be returning in the future.
“So, that’s a good sign. So, the intention is to come back which is fabulous.”
Henderson, 51, has not presented the radio show since their on-air bust-up on February 20.
The clash started when Sandilands slammed his co-host for her “fixation” with astrology and accused her of not being focused on her work.
“It’s affecting other things, like your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable. You’re off with the fairies with this s***. It’s mental,” Sandilands said.
He also claimed “everyone in the building” had complained about her for “not doing the rest of the job”.
“I would never say things like that about you,” Henderson hit back as she broke down in tears.
“It’s a total attack, it really is … to say, ‘You don’t know what the F is going on, you’re not doing your job’, that’s an attack and I wouldn’t do that.”
Sandilands later expressed his regret over the row and admitted he “shouldn’t have” made the comments on-air.
“I obviously upset her. Maybe, in hindsight, I shouldn’t have said it on the air. But we say a lot of things on the air here,” he told listeners last Wednesday.
“It was never meant to hurt her feelings and obviously it did. I regret hurting her feelings. No one wants to hurt someone. Especially someone you care for.
“I don’t really know. The show is just ploughing ahead anyway. I’m just leaving this up to management.”
On Monday, a journalist with sources close to the radio show predicted it was unlikely that Henderson would return at all.
“Any future for Kyle and Jackie O as a radio duo – I’m told there’s a very, very long and very dark cloud hanging over the future,” Peter Ford told 3AW.
“In fact, a couple of people have said to me if it was a horse race, I wouldn’t be backing them for a win.
“It’s a $200 million contract that could very likely be ripped up and binned. I’m told more than likely she won’t be coming back ever.”
Kyle and Jackie O signed a reported $200 million deal with Australian Radio Network (ARN) in 2023, and have another eight years remaining on the contract.